A friend of mine once observed, “You can’t forget the blues.”

That is especially true in Chicago where this city offers the biggest free Blues Festival in the world.

Since Chicago Blues were the source of so much music that came out of the British Invasion, I thought we could come up with a list of 20 blues covers done by rock artists that just might change your life.

A jam in the finest British rock tradition. Gotta love that Kim Simmonds.

The Lizard King does Willie Dixon proud. The little girls understand.

There’s a more recent version (2006), but you need to seek out the version from the album “Up From The Skies.” Just Ellen on vocals.

Buddy Guy turned a nursery rhyme into a blues classic and then Stevie made it a show-stopper.

You could do a legitimate Clapton top 20 blues covers, but for all the work he’s done in the idiom, nothing compares to this Duane Allman and Eric Clapton summit. This is how you woo your best friend’s wife. If you’re into that sort of thing.

Duane Allman was the session guitarist.

Bonnie’s debut is bursting with blues covers. I’ve always been partial to this Sippie Wallace number.

Otis Rush’s best known song done by these Beantown blues lovers.

From Live in Europe. Please, I’m begging you, take a look at the live version on Youtube sometime. You’ll understand why all these people go off when Rory’s name is mentioned.

What about “I Ain’t Superstitious?” Dude, Imogen Heap’s vocals on this version are not to be trifled with. And Jeff is, well, Jeff.

Peter Green era Mac. I’ve always loved a song that tells me, “You got to rock.”

Where the boogie met East Indian influence and survived.

Recently done by [lastfm]G. Love[/lastfm] of all people. Dylan did it on his first album.

The blues leaked from her pores like bourbon perfumes a drunk

When the vans were rockin’ and the heads were knockin’, I doubt most knew this was a Leadbelly song.

This is the stuff that made the Stones roll.

Off the album Johnny Winter. The solo, my friend.

In a word, randy.

Not really a traditional blues cover, but if I didn’t mention Roy on this list I’d lose sleep and I can’t afford to do that.

This is the arrangement that The Allman Brothers fell in love with.

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